Communication device with two modes of operation

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a mobile station which comprises two separate user interfaces and an outer covering ( 10, 11 ) which can be unfolded. The device has the appearance and the size of a common mobile phone when the outer covering ( 10, 11 ) is closed, whereby available is a first user interface being substantially a telephone user interface. When the outer covering ( 10, 11 ) of the device is unfolded it exposes a second user interface having a relatively large-sized display ( 12 ) and an alphanumeric keypad ( 15 ). Alphanumeric messages and graphical information can be transmitted and received using the second user interface.

The present invention relates generally to personal electricalcommunication devices and particularly to a mobile station which cantransmit both speech and alphanumeric messages.

Mobile phones acting as cellular system terminal devices have rapidlybecome quite common, and we can assume that in the future almosteverybody will have a communication device, which is suitable to becarried anywhere and with which it is possible to call othercorresponding devices within the coverage area of the respective system,on a world-wide basis when required. For the present a major part of themobile phones have been expressly telephones, or in the first place theywere intended to transmit speech connections. In digital systems it hasbecome possible to transmit also short alphanumeric messages between themobile phones. Another story completely are the wire-connectedcombinations formed by a mobile phone, a data interface and a portablecomputer, which can be used to transmit through the cellular system anydigital data processed by the computer.

From the publication “Portable Communication” by Peter E. Jackson andDavid A. Deas, Proceedings of the National Communications Forum, 42(1988), Sept. 30, No. 2, Chicago, Ill., USA, it is known a personalmessage communication device according to FIG. 1, where a device 1resembling a modern mobile phone has both a numerical keypad 2 and ancharacter keypad 3. From the text of the publication it is evident thatit expressly refers to a mobile terminal of a wide-area communicationsystem, where the terminal can freely move within the coverage area ofthe system and where the system monitors the terminal's position so thatit can correctly route calls to a certain terminal device. In saidreference publication the device 1 is presented at an outline level, andthere is no detailed description of its structure or functioning. Theusability of the presented device is particularly complicated by thesmall size of the keypads, which obviously was used aiming at generallysmall overall dimensions.

From the patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,346 it is known a mobilephone having a numerical keypad which can be turned to one side,revealing a larger alphanumeric keypad below it. However, in such asolution the display of the device must be made so small that only avery short alphanumeric message will fit in it, in order to have a sizewhich is at least reasonably readable. In said publication the object ofthe invention is said to be a mobile phone, which can include anelectronic notebook function, and it is proposed that the power supplyto the device's radio sections is switched off when the notebookfunction is used. Corresponding solutions are known from severaltelevision remote controls, whereby the user, by unfolding the outercovering of the device or a part of it, can enlarge that user interface,e.g. the keypad, of which only a small part is visible when the outercovering is closed.

The objective of this invention is to present a personal mobile stationwhich can transmit information between users in a more flexible way thanearlier. An objective of the invention is also to present a device ofsaid type, which is easy to use and well suited as a mobile terminal ofa cellular system. A further objective of the invention is to present adevice which can transmit both voice and versatile graphical informationbetween users.

The objectives of the invention are achieved by a device comprising theradio sections of a cellular system terminal and comprising two separateuser interfaces, of which the first is intended for the transmission oftelephone services and the second for the transmission of alphanumericmessages and other services requiring graphical information. The firstuser interface is located on the outer surface of the device and thesecond within the device, so that it can be exposed by unfolding thedevice in at least two parts, in a way intended for this purpose.

The portable communication device according to the invention ischaracterized in that it comprises a separate first user interface and aseparate second user interface to realize the interaction between saidcommunication device and the user, whereby said first user interfacecomprises first input means and first indicator means and said seconduser interface comprises second input means and second indicator means.The communication device of another embodiment according to theinvention is characterized in that it comprises a separate first userinterface and a separate second user interface to realize theinteraction between said communication device and the user, whereby saidfirst user interface is substantially a telephone used interface for thetransmission of two-way speech and comprises a microphone, a speaker andfirst input means to control the operation of the device and to enterdata into the device, and whereby said second user interface comprisessecond input means and indicator means.

During the development work leading to the invention we observed thatwhen we continuously try to reduce the size of the mobile stations thesmall outer dimensions already begin to complicate the use of thedevices. The user interface, or a certain entirety formed by parts whichare designed for the interaction between a user and the device, shouldbe designed so that regardless of the small size of the device itself aclumsy user, even with large hands, can manage the depression of buttonsand other required operations without the training of a watchmaker. Thedisadvantages of the small size are particularly clearly seen in thedevice according to FIG. 1 representing the prior art and having buttonsonly a few millimeters wide and spaced about one millimeter from eachother, judging from the size of the pencil which is shown to illustratethe scale.

The mobile station according to the invention has two separate userinterfaces, which are independent regarding the use of the mobilestation, i.e. they can be used independently of each other. The firstuser interface is located on the outer surface of the device andresembles the user interface of present-day mobile phones with amicrophone, a speaker, a keypad and a small alphanumeric display. It isintended to be used in the same way as known user interfaces ofpresent-day mobile phones. Because the whole outer surface of the deviceis available for the realization of this user interface, it can be madelarge enough so that it is easy to use. However, it is preferable thatthe keyboard and display means of the first user interface are locatedon only one side of the outer surface, so that they can be controlledwith one glance. In order to use the second user interface the mobilestation according to the invention can be opened by unfolding preferablytwo halves hinged to each other and having at their inner surfaces alarger display, a complete alphanumeric keypad and function keys, whichthen become visible and available to the user. A space with the size oftwo times the cross section of the device is available to realize thesecond user interface, whereby it also can be made large enough to makeit easy to use, as was emphasized above.

Below the invention will be described in more detail with reference tothe preferred embodiments shown as examples and to the enclosed figures,in which:

FIG. 1 shows a prior art mobile station;

FIG. 2 shows schematically the first user interface of a mobile stationaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows schematically the second user interface of a mobile stationaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows in more detail a part of the user interface shown in FIG.3;

FIG. 5 shows in a perspective view another preferred embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 6 shows in a perspective view a further preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Above we referred to FIG. 1 when describing prior art, and thus in thedescription of the invention and its preferred embodiments we refermainly to FIGS. 2 to 6. In the figures we use the same reference numbersfor corresponding parts.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a mobile station 4 according to the inventionseen from above, so that its first user interface is visible. Thepresented first user interface is quite similar to that of present-daymobile phones according to prior art, of which we can mention as anexample the GSM phone model 2110 manufactured by Nokia Mobile PhonesLtd. The first user interface comprises a microphone 5, a speaker 6, anumerical keypad 7, control keys 8 and a rather small alphanumericdisplay 9. They are realized with components similar to those of priorart mobile phones, and they are used to create a telephone connectionthrough the cellular radio system to another mobile station, in the sameway as in known mobile phones. With them it is further possible torealize certain supplementary functions of call set-up, such as findingtelephone numbers and names in the memory of the mobile station. Thefirst user interface according to the invention can comprise also otherparts than those of the embodiment example shown in FIG. 2, but theywill not substantially change the purpose nor the use of the interface.

In order to expose the second user interface the mobile station 4according to the invention is opened. FIG. 3 shows a mobile station 4according to a preferred embodiment of the invention when it isunfolded, so that its two halves 10 and 11 hinged along the long sideare turned so that they form an angle over 90 degrees, preferably to anangle of 135 degrees. The opening angle is determined by the fact thatwhen the device is unfolded it should be as easy to use as possible: thekeypad parts of the second user interface should be easily accessibleand according to their design the display parts should be located in anoptimal angle relative the direction of the user's eyes when the deviceis in a typical position of use, e.g. in the lap or on a table. It isfurther advantageous that the mobile station 4 according to theinvention will remain, also when it unfolded, in a certain position on atable or any other even surface, which has an effect on the openingangle. In another preferred embodiment the halves 10 and 11 can beturned 180 degrees relative each other, whereby a plate-like structureis obtained.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the first half 10 compriseson its visible side a display 12, which occupies almost the whole areaof the half 10. On the edge areas outside the display the half 10comprises scrolling keys 13 and command keys 14. In this embodiment thesecond half 11 comprises only keys. The largest group of keys forms acomplete alphanumeric keypad, or a so called QWERTY keyboard 15, inwhich the alphanumeric keys are preferably in the same standard orderthat is used in the keyboards of computers and typewriters. This is anadvantage because the user doesn't have to learn any new key order,characteristic of the device according to the invention. Further thesecond half 11 preferably comprises application keys 16, on which therecan be seen the names of certain applications, and four arrow keys 17.

The large-sized display 12 shown in FIG. 3 preferably is a liquidcrystal display, having a resolution of e.g. 640×200 picture elements orpixels. The manufacturing of such displays is a technology known per se.The display 12 can be provided with a touch sensitive film or anycorresponding arrangement known per se, with the aid of which it can beused as a data input device by touching its surface at certain points.All keys 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 shown in FIG. 3 are preferably push buttonsof the same type as the keys used in present-day mobile phones and/or inso called palmtop or hand-held computers.

Below we describe the purpose and the use of the different key groups.The scrolling keys 13 are intended to move the selection bar in thedisplay, in other words, when the display 12 during use shows a list ofoptional alternatives and one or several of them are objects to beselected at a time, the selection mark (or marks) showing this will moveforwards or backwards when the scrolling keys 13 are depressed. Thecommand keys 14 are so called program dependent keys (softkeys), inother words each of them can select a certain command, which is shown inthe display 12 at the location of the respective command key 14. Thecommands can vary according to the functional status of the device andthe program controlling the device. In the preferred embodiment certainoften used commands, such as “delete” and “close”, are preferably alwaysassociated with the same command key 14.

The alphanumeric keys 15 are used to enter alphanumeric characters tothe device 4. The same keypad can be used to enter messages in differentlanguages, even when different languages require certain specialcharacters. They are preferably generated so that several characters,e.g. a-ä-{dot over (a)}, are assigned to certain keys, so that eachcharacter in its turn appears in the display 12 when the user has pushedthe respective alphanumeric key and then pushes once or more times acertain special key, a so called “character” key. Another alternative isthat each character a-ä-{dot over (a)} assigned to a certainalphanumeric key is displayed in sequence when the user rapidly pushesthe respective key several times in a sequence, or keeps the keycontinuously depressed. It is obvious to a person skilled in the artthat also other corresponding methods can be used to assign severalcharacters to the same alphanumeric key. Preferably the keypad 15 hasindications about which special characters are assigned to each key.

The application keys 16 are preferably associated with the selection ofcertain applications, for instance so that when the user depresses acertain application key he sets the device in a state where he can beginthe transmission of an alphanumeric message, and when he depresses acertain other application key the state changes so that he can updatetelephone numbers stored in the memory means (not shown in the figures)of the device 4, and so on. Certain shortcut functions, or macros, canalso be assigned to certain application keys 16, such as “delete 10oldest messages in the memory” or corresponding functions. Oneapplication key could be a so called special function key, thedepression of which opens more applications. Thus the number ofapplication keys 16 will not limit the number of possible applicationsused in the device 4. In a preferred embodiment the execution of eachapplication is continued from that point where it was interrupted whensaid application was last active. With the aid of the arrow keys 17 theuser can control the cursor moving in the display 12, or supply thedevice 4 with other information relating to graphical functions, e.g.draw simple line drawings.

FIG. 4 shows in an embodiment example how the display 12 is divided intofunctional regions. At the center of the display there is an input andoutput region 18, which is used to communicate alphanumeric and othergraphic information to the user. For example, the text will be displayedin this region when the user writes an alphanumeric message and intendsto transmit it to another user. Correspondingly, the device displays thecontents of the message in the input and output region 18 when thedevice 4 has received a message containing graphical information and theuser wants to read said message. At the right edge of the display 12there is a command region 19, which typically displays commandscorresponding to the command keys 14 which are outside the edge of thedisplay 12 and shown in FIG. 3. Then the user will know which commandexecution corresponds to a depression of each command key 14. The leftborder region 20 of the display 12 can contain a list of optionalactions which can be scrolled using the scrolling keys 13. The region 20can preferably also be used as an indicator region, which by simplesymbols presents to the user information about the device 4, such as thecharge status of the battery which functions as the power supply (notshown in the figures), and the cellular radio network's local fieldstrength measured by the device 4. The display can further show the timeand the date, a reminder of received messages, possibly the location ofthe device within a certain rate area, and so on. The division of thedisplay 12 into functional regions is presented only as an example andit is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the display 12 canalso be divided in many other ways.

The use of the device 4 according to the invention is briefly describedbelow. The use of the device with the aid of the first user interfaceshown in FIG. 2 in order to utilize the common mobile phone servicesdoes not differ from the use of presently known mobile phones, so thatin the description below we mainly discuss operation with the aid of thesecond user interface shown in FIG. 3. The description is intended to bean example, and its details do not limit the invention.

Let us assume that the user wants to send a text message to another userwith the device 4. First he unfolds the device 4 so that it is in theposition shown in FIG. 3. He starts a function called “messagetransmission” by depressing a certain application key 16, whereby a listof commands is displayed at the right edge region 19 of the display 12containing items Receiver, Message, Transmit. The user depresses thatcommand key 14 at which there is the Receiver command, whereby he willbe able to scroll a list of receiver names and connection numbers storedin the memory means of the device. The user selects a certain receiverwith the arrow keys 17 and then he depresses the command key 14 at whichthere is the Message command. Now using the keypad 15 he can enter adesired alphanumeric message in the display 12. With a sharp pointeddrawing tool he can also draw on the surface of the display figuresaccompanying the message, if the display 12 is provided with a touchsensitive film. At the same time the message is stored in the device'smemory means, from where it can be read during the transmission step.

When the user considers the message to be complete he depresses thecommand key for the Send command, or e.g. a certain application key 16with a function specified as transmission of the message. Themicroprocessor (not shown in the figures) controlling the operation ofthe device 4 reads from the memory means the message written and/ordrawn by the user and transforms it into a form in which it can betransmitted through the cellular radio network. A transform of this kindis known e.g. from present-day portable telefax devices. A finishedmessage is transmitted using the device's RF sections (not shown in thefigures) to the cellular radio network and thence further to thereceiver's terminal device. A cellular radio network base station (notshown in the figures) preferably acknowledges the successfultransmission of the message by sending an acknowledgment message to themobile station 4. The receiver's terminal device can also automaticallyreturn information about a successful reception of the message, wherebythe device 4 can notify the user about this, either automatically or asa response to an inquiry made by the user using a certain applicationkey 16.

If the user makes a mistake or acts in a way, which for any reason isnot allowed by the device 4, or which requires a specification, thedevice preferably reports this in a “balloon” displayed in the display12 and telling the user what to do. A typical situation is such whereseveral telephone numbers have been stored for the same receiver and theuser must specify the number to which he primarily wants the message tobe sent.

The two user interfaces of the device 4 according to the invention,which are separately shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, are independent in thatsense that the user can use them independently of each other. However,the same internal parts related to the operation of the device are usedthrough them, such as the memory means, which store a databasecontaining receiver names and telephone numbers often used by the user.In this way we avoid confusion which could be caused by data that wereupdated in different ways through different user interfaces. Theinvention does not limit a simultaneous use of the user interfaces. Forinstance, during a call the keypad and the display of the second userinterface could be used as an electrical notebook, in which the user canstore important information he gets during the call, or as a calendar,in which the user during a call can check data relating to his timeschedule.

All auxiliary functions which are used in modern mobile phones could ofcourse be included in the device according to the invention. The devicecan e.g. have a connector (not shown in the figures), to which it ispossible to connect a portable computer through a data adapter in orderto form a digital modem connection through the radio medium in acellular radio network. The device can also have an internal fax modem,whereby it can send and receive telefaxes, whereby the large-sizedisplay 12 facilitates the writing and reading of the telefaxes.Further, because the second user interface of the device 4 according tothe invention comprises a display 12 and a keypad 15, the device 4 canbe preferably used as a small computer terminal via a suitable datacommunication path, whereby this terminal emulates e.g. a VT 100terminal in a way known per se, when it is connected to anothercomputer. A preferable way to arrange the communication between thedevice 4 according to the invention and a certain other device, such asa PC or a printer, is to use an infra-red link, where both the device 4and the other device comprise infra-red receiving and transmittingmeans. It is a well known technology per se to realize a communicationpath based on the infra-red link between a mobile station and acomputer. For example, the programs stored in the memory means of thedevice 4 can be updated through this link.

If the memory means and microprocessor of the device according to theinvention have a sufficiently high capacity, it is possible to installin it also other applications which utilize the characteristics of thedevice 4 as a small portable computer. An example of such an auxiliaryapplication could be a pocket calculator program, which in view of thelarge display 12 would be able to process mathematical informationcontaining even complicated graphical information, in the same way ase.g. the known scientific calculators manufactured and marketed byHewlett-Packard Company. Another example of an auxiliary applicationcould be an electronic dictionary, which, from the databases stored inthe memory means of the device, could find foreign language equivalentsof words input by the keypad 15. The device can also automatically or atthe request of the user translate simple messages e.g. into English whenthe device detects that the country code of the receiver's telephonenumber represents a country where English is spoken. Such auxiliaryfunctions are programmed processes known per se, which can be stored inthe memory means of the device 4 in such a format that can be executedby the microprocessor controlling the operation of the device.

The stability of the device according to the invention, when opened andplaced on a table or a similar even surface during the use of the seconduser interface, plays a significant role in the ease of use that theuser experiences. It is preferable that the second half of the device,that is, the one which includes the large alphanumerical keyboard thatis visible when the device is open, is heavy enough to keep the openeddevice balanced. A suitable distribution of mass is achieved by placinga majority of the heaviest structural parts in said second half. Anadvantageous embodiment of the invention includes in the second half forexample the microphone and the speaker that functionally belong to thetelephone interface, as well as the radio frequency transceiver partsand most of the electronics that realize the operations of the seconduser interface. When reference is made in this patent application to thefact that the telephone microphone and speaker are parts of the firstuser interface (the telephone interface), which is located substantiallyon the outer surface of the device, it should be understood that themicrophone and speaker may actually be inside the device, as long as theouter surface has suitable openings to act as means for channellingsound to the microphone and from the speaker. In the embodimentdescribed above with the microphone and speaker in the second half,these openings 5 and 6 may be on the other side of the (closed) devicethan the rest of the telephone interface parts 7, 8, like in FIG. 6.

According to the inventive idea related to the presented invention asmall-sized mobile phone can be provided with auxiliary functionsrequiring a larger user interface, so that the device is foldable andthat the larger user interface is found within the device. Withreference to FIGS. 2 to 4 above we discussed an embodiment in which thedevice unfolds as two parts. According to the same inventive idea thedevice could also be made so that it unfolds in three parts according toFIG. 5, or in still more parts in other embodiments. For example in theembodiment shown in FIG. 5 the large display 12 of the device comprisestwo sections, whereby we obtain a total display area, which correspondsto about twice the cross section of the folded device, and still thereis room for a complete QWERTY keyboard 15. A person skilled in the artcan easily design further alternative embodiments, in which the displayand keypad sections are divided in different ways on the surfaces of theunfolding sections of the device according to the invention.

It is known that a user interface of the mobile phone type correspondingto the first user interface of the invention presented above can also berealized without a display. In one embodiment of the present invention,where we aimed at minimal production costs, the first user interfacecomprises only a microphone, a speaker and a numerical keypad. The firstuser interface could even be only a pager, whereby it does not containany microphone or speaker, but contains a small display. Then of courseit is not possible to make any calls with the device.

Speech, telefaxes and graphical information between users can becommunicated with the device according to the invention, which alreadymay be considered as quite versatile communication, taking into accountthat the device according to the invention resembles a common mobilephone regarding its size and appearance. The device is easy to use,which is particularly enhanced by the fact that it has a telephone userinterface which is the same as in an ordinary mobile phone, and theparts belonging to its user interfaces are of a sufficiently large size.The familiar QWERTY order of the alphanumeric keypad also represents theeasy to use features.

1. A portable communication device (4) for transmitting information inelectrical form between a user and a certain data communication system,characterized in that it comprises: an outer covering (10, 11) includingupper and lower halves which can be moved between a folded condition andan unfolded condition by actions of the user, said lower half (11)containing the heaviest structural parts of said portable communicationdevice including a microphone (5), a speaker (6), and sound channellingmeans for directing sound to the microphone and from the speaker, saidlower half (11) being substantially heavier than said upper half (10);and in order to realize the interaction between said communicationdevice (4) and the user, as separate items: a first user interface insaid lower half (11) with first input means (5, 7, 8) and firstindicator means (9); and a second user interface in said upper half (10)with second input means (13, 14, 15, 16, 17) and second indicator means(12); of which said first user interface comprises parts (5, 6, 7, 8,9), which are located substantially on the outer surface of said outercovering (10, 11), so that they can be used when said upper and lowerhalves are in the folded condition, without unfolding said outer cover,and of which said second user interface comprises parts (12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17), which are located substantially inside said outer covering (10,11), so that they can be used when said upper and lower halves are inthe unfolded condition outer covering is unfolded, said portablecommunication device being balanced for firm placement of said lowerhalf (11) of said outer covering on a substantially flat level surface,with said upper half (12) of said outer covering positioned such thatthe included angle between said lower half and said higher half is lessthan 180°.
 2. A communication device (4) according to claim 1,characterized in that said first and second user interfaces can be usedindependently of each other.
 3. A communication device (4) according toclaim 1, characterized in that said first user interface issubstantially a telephone user interface for the two-way transmission ofspeech and comprises sound channelling means (5, 6) for directing soundto a microphone and from a speaker, and keys (7, 8) to control theoperation of the device (4) and to enter data into the device.
 4. Acommunication device (4) according to claim 3, characterized in thatsaid outer surface of said outer covering comprises a first side and asecond side, and said sound channelling means (5, 6) are located on saidfirst side and said keys (7, 8) are located on said second side.
 5. Acommunication device (4) according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid outer covering (10, 11) comprises a first part (10) and a secondpart (11) which are substantially equally large in cross section andconnected to each other by a hinge joint, so that they are locatedsubstantially against each other when said outer covering is closed, anso that in order to unfold said outer covering they are turned apartaround the rotational axis of said hinge joint.
 6. A communicationdevice (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second userinterface comprises a display (12) for the presentation of alphanumericand/or graphical information, and keys (13, 14, 15, 16, 17) to controlthe operation of the device and to enter data into the device.
 7. Acommunication device (4) according to claim 6, characterized in thatsaid first part (10) comprises said display (12), and that said secondpart (11) comprises the largest part of said keys (15, 16, 17).
 8. Acommunication device (4) according to claim 6, characterized in thatsaid second user interface comprises at least one scrolling key (13) forscrolling the information in said display (12).
 9. A communicationdevice (4) according to claim 6, characterized in that said second userinterface comprises at east one command key (14) for entering commandsto the device with the depression of one key.
 10. A communication device(4) according to claim 6 characterized in that it comprises means forthe execution of application programs and that said second userinterface comprises application keys (16) for the selection of a certainapplication program with the depression of one key.
 11. A communicationdevice (4) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises afax modem for transmitting and receiving telefaxes through saidcommunication system.
 12. A communication device (4) according to claim6, characterized in that said display (12) comprises means for thecommunication of graphical information to the device (4) by touchingsaid display (12) at a specified position.
 13. A communication device(4) according claim 1, characterized in that said second user interfacecomprises about 30 character keys (15), which are arranged substantiallyas according to a certain established keyboard order.
 14. A portablecommunication device (4) for transmitting information in electrical formbetween a user and a certain data communication system, characterized inthat it comprises separate first and second user interfaces in order torealize the interaction between said communication device (4) and theuser, of which said first user interface is substantially a telephoneuser interface for the two-way transmission of speech and comprisessound channelling means for directing sound to a microphone (5) and froma speaker (6), and first input means (7, 8) to control the operation ofthe device (4) and to enter data into the device and first indicatormeans (9), and of which the second user interface comprises second inputmeans (13, 14, 15, 16, 17) and second indicator means (12) and furtherincluding an outer covering (10, 11) including upper and lower halveswhich can be unfolded by actions of the user, said lower half (11)containing the heaviest structural parts of said portable communicationdevice including a microphone (5), a speaker (6), and sound channellingmeans for directing sound to the microphone and from the speaker, saidlower half (11) being substantially heavier than said upper half (10),said portable communication device being balanced for firm placement ofsaid lower half of said outer covering on a substantially flat levelsurface, with said upper half of said outer covering positioned suchthat the included angle between said lower half and said higher half isless than 180°.
 15. A communication device (4) according to claim 14,characterized in that it comprises an outer covering (10, 11) which canbe unfolded by actions of the user, and that said first user interfacecomprises parts (5, 6, 7, 8, 9), which are located substantially on theouter surface of said outer covering (10, 11), so that they can be usedwithout unfolding said outer cover, and that said second user interfacecomprises parts (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17), which are locatedsubstantially inside said outer covering (10, 11), so that they can beused when said outer covering is unfolded.
 16. A communication device(4) according to claim 15, characterized in that said sound channellingmeans (5, 6) are located in a first part of said outer covering and saidfirst input means (7, 8) are located in a second part of said outercovering.
 17. A communication device (4) according to claim 14,characterized in that said first and second user interfaces can be usedindependently of each other.